Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disorder that causes extreme fatigue over extended periods of time which persists after rest and limits one’s ability to conduct ordinary daily activities. Discuss topics including causes, exams and tests for CFS, treatments and how to live with CFS.

Could I have CFS?

I'm twenty years old and I've been having a physical health problem for a couple years. I get this tremendous pressure in my chest and it hurts to breath - which in turn makes me dizzy sometimes and I have to stop what I'm doing to sit down and focus on breathing. On top of that I'm tired and I have a complete lack of appetite. I'll make something to eat, take two or three bites and then I don't even want the rest. I also get this weird, painful pressure in my throat when I lay on my stomach, laugh, yell, or bend over. This is seriously effecting me. Do my dismay, I have been living with this issue for all this time because doctors WILL NOT help me. The first one I went to didn't run any checks, take blood, or anything - he wrote it off as an "Age issue" and perscribed Zoloft as it "must be anxiety" I took the Zoloft and I had really bad side effects and it didn't even help my existing symptoms. I've never been a truly anxious person, so I know that's really not the issue anyways. The last doctor I went to ran a peak test, checked my heart rate, and gave me a GI cocktail - then told me that my symptoms could be "literally anything" then he asked me if I have ever suffered from anxiety. I told him no, but recounted the story of my first doctor willy-nilly prescribing me Zoloft, the doctor listened and then told me to "humor him" because of my age he didn't think it could be anything other than anxiety and he prescribed me Xanax. I took it and it did nothing for me but make me want to sleep all the time. I'm overly frustrated with where I'm at, and I don't want to go back to the doctor - but I'm in so much pain. It's so frustrating for a doctor to write off my serious condition as anxiety because I'm too young to have anything wrong with me. Is there a type of specialist I can go to for this? Or is there some way to alleviate the pain? I want a doctor to take me seriously.

I'm going to talk about few things first before we get down to blood test needed to accurately make a decision.

First and foremost, are you stress? Can you pin point when in your life these symptoms first appeared? Did symptoms appear out of no where?

Now several possibilities exist for your symptoms, without blood test I'm guessing what could possibly be wrong.

Taking antidepressant are must if you truly are stress. However, many antidepressant medicine have awful side effect. Now, don't get me wrong here I'm not saying your depressed, just an opinion.

Many physician will run routine blood work to rule out major concerns. When all test results are negative they're left bewildered and at the end blame the patient. They may prescribe antidepressant just to get you out of their office as no major concerns are found.

Can you post your test results? Has your physician checked for CMV, EBV and HHV6? These three are leading viral cause of CFIDS. On top of that if you have chronic stress, symptoms are even more aggravated.

You will need to discover a doctor who specialize in treating Chronic Fatigue. You will go no where with physician who lack knowledge. It will just make you frustrated.

Relax. I was in my early 20's when I first thought I had CFIDS. My was from viral infection. So ask your doctor to perform those test.

Assuming that your fatigue is from viral infection then not much can be done except rest. Besides you should be resting right now. I recommend you read, " end fatigue by dr teitelbaum". Also, you may want to consider dropping antidepressant completely and focus on more natural approach.

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